Once again, the UM Sustainable Development Centre (UMSDC) was honored to be invited as part of the organizing committee for another significant event at Universiti Malaya—this time for the Majlis Iftar Perdana 2025, held on Thursday, 20th March 2025. For this prestigious event, UMSDC contributed as the Committee for Sustainability (AJK Lestari), playing a vital role in meetings and discussions to ensure the event adhered to the University’s guidelines for hosting sustainable, green events.
This involvement aligns with our ongoing initiative to promote a culture of sustainability within UM, encouraging staff involved in planning major events to consistently integrate green practices. Through these efforts, we aim to foster a long-term commitment to sustainability as a core value in all university activities.
UMSDC focused on minimizing the use of single-use plastics such as plastic bags, containers, and cutlery. Significant achievements included convincing the planning committee to switch from plastic bags to paper bags for the bubur lambuk giveaway. For the Majlis Iftar itself, sustainable alternatives such as melamine plates, paper plates, metal cutlery, reusable cups and paper-based cartons for mineral water were primarily used.
However, challenges arose during the bubur lambuk preparation. The caterers faced difficulties with hot bubur lambuk softening paper containers and complicating transport. As a solution, around 1,000 out of 4,000 containers were successfully replaced with paper options, filled onsite by UM staff before distribution at the Dewan Tunku Canselor.
Another issue involved a minor vendor who used plastic plates and cutlery during the Majlis Iftar Perdana, citing an inability to source sustainable alternatives in the required quantities. This highlighted the need for better preparation in the future. Providing vendors with clear guidelines, including recommended sources for eco-friendly products, could help prevent such problems in upcoming events. To address this issue, recycling bins were placed during the event.
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Food waste management was another area where UMSDC took the lead. To reduce food waste, reminders were placed on buffet tables encouraging attendees to take only what they needed. Food waste separation stations, along with bins for recyclables and other waste, were strategically placed throughout the event.
An practical approach involved using buckets to collect liquids such as water, ice, and gravy separately, reducing the weight of food waste bins and simplifying transport to the Zero Waste Campaign composting site. In total, eight waste separation stations were set up, ensuring comprehensive coverage during the event.
After the event, 60kg of food waste was collected and transported by Jabatan Harta Benda to the Zero Waste Campaign composting site. This food waste will be transformed into compost, effectively avoiding landfill disposal and contributing to the university’s sustainability goals.
The success of the food waste initiative was largely due to the involvement of The Planet Prodigy, a youth-led initiative at UM focused on sustainability and planetary health, along with 21 dedicated UM student volunteers. These volunteers manned the waste separation stations, guiding attendees on proper waste disposal practices.
In the future, we aspire to make such efforts second nature for the UM community, eliminating the need for volunteer monitoring as waste separation becomes a routine practice at university events.
UMSDC’s participation in the Majlis Iftar Perdana 2025 underscored the importance of sustainability in event planning and execution. While challenges remain, such as sourcing sustainable products and ensuring vendor compliance, these experiences provide valuable lessons for future events.
By continuing to integrate sustainable practices and fostering a culture of environmental consciousness, we aim to establish Universiti Malaya as a leader in green event management, setting a benchmark for other institutions to follow.
